Busan 2026: Wētā FX CTO Kimball Thurston on AI’s Biggest Promise: Less Busywork, More Creativity
At the Busan International Film Festival, Wētā FX CTO Kimball Thurston discussed the integration of artificial intelligence in filmmaking, emphasizing a 'people-first' approach. Alongside Netflix and Korean filmmakers, Thurston highlighted how AI tools are effectively utilized to reduce routine busywork and enhance creative possibilities.
Why it matters
As the entertainment industry increasingly adopts artificial intelligence, balancing technological efficiency with human creativity remains a critical operational and artistic challenge.
Kimball Thurston’s work as chief technology officer at eight-time Oscar-winning Wētā FX has put him at the cutting edge of filmmaking technology and in a unique position to assess the pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence.
Speaking at Netflix’s annual Creative Asia event, co-hosted by the Motion Picture Association in partnership with the Busan International Film Festival, Thurston went to some lengths to explain how his team was currently using and exploring AI in their productions. But he was also quick to explain how the New Zealand-based Wētā FX sets a “people-first” parameter.
“I think the human touch is critical and necessary,” Thurston explained.
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